Series: Peachtree
Volume: 1/?Publisher: Two Peninsulas Press (Indie/Self-Published)
Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance
Length: 104 535 words
Read in: English
Review copy format: epub
Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✬
Human hands have their limits and Stephen learns it the hard way when trying to hold too many items at once, he spills coffee in the corporate hallway. He is reacting very quickly, unfortunately for Russ, the company's young rising star, it is too late anyway. That's why Stephen decides to take responsibility for Russ' sprained ankle and the fact that he hit his head on the floor. He invites the young man over to be able to look after him. However, it is not without significance that both are clearly interested in each other and with time they start dating.
The death of Stephan's father puts his relationship with Russ to the test. When the strong and confident Stephen starts to fall apart, Russ must become his support and help him return to normal life.
The death of Stephan's father puts his relationship with Russ to the test. When the strong and confident Stephen starts to fall apart, Russ must become his support and help him return to normal life.
"Off-Balance" is the first volume in "Peachtree" series by Brigham Vaughn, which consists of two published a few years earlier and slightly improved novellas, "Equals" and "Partners". Thus, the novel can be clearly divided into two parts. The first focuses on, among other things, the topic of a new love and thus the search for broadly understood harmony. Harmony between work and personal life, the "old" and "new" life, differences in social status, two different people who want to be together. In short, while reading the first part of the book, we see how this new, slightly unexpected feeling unfolds, as the characters slowly try to put the jigsaw puzzle pieces of their lives together and create this one big whole out of it. To be honest, in this respect "Off-Balance" is a bit like a modern fairy tale. A young, ambitious and poor boy in distress receives help from the person guilty of the whole incident, a lovely, older, wealthy "prince charming". The point is, however, that the young man, although poor, is very proud.
And Russ's pride that I've just mentioned is what I really liked about this story. This guy is fully aware of the difference in his and Stephen's social status and "thickness of their wallets", while Stephen himself does not really care at all and in a way does not even feel it. So using him would be very easy for Russ, but neither of them even think about it. Instead, Russ responds with anger to expensive gifts that are also a form of compensation for what was damaged in his accident. For he is too proud to accept without batting an eye something that he cannot afford. In fact, Russ has to convince himself to ignore his pride and act reasonably. Thus, in the first part of "Off-Balance" it is this internal struggle between pride and reason that is one of the most important problems that this young man must deal with.
The second part of "Off-Balance" largely focuses on the theme of a family. Although it had been mentioned earlier in the story, when Russ and Stephen shared their stories while getting to know each other, it was all about their memories. However, over time our characters have to face some family problems, and more precisely Stephen's problems, as he returns to his unfriendly little town after death of his father. Many novels touch the topic of reconciliation between family members whose relationship has been broken by homophobia or other serious problems. In some cases the reconciliation is successful, in others it is impossible. In this novel, however, the situation is different, as the death of Stephen's father makes everything even more difficult. Although the author finds some interesting solution to this problem, this episode in the lives of our characters, in my opinion, is best described by the words of Robert Brault: "Life becomes easier when you learn to accept an apology you never got."
I think that in this second part of "Off-Balance" the topic of support is also important. I believe it's essential that it's an older person who seeks support from a younger one. Although this is nothing new, I always pay attention to similar motifs, because they emphasize the unpredictability of life and the imbalance in the world. After all, an older person is supposed to be more experienced, smarter and tougher. But the reality is often completely different, so I like that "Off-Balance" shows Stephan's weakness and confusion and Russ's strength. This probably shows best that these two can complement and support each other during difficult times. They are not alone when they need help, which is very important in a relationship. In a way, father's death is another, or maybe even the first really serious test that our characters' relationship must pass.
To sum up, "Off-Balance" is a really worth reading, interesting, multidimensional novel, in which we find a whole range of different feelings and which shows the characters from many different angles. All this undoubtedly charms the reader who quickly falls in love with this book.
Headcanon: Stephen always tries to give Russ gifts that are for free or just cost very little and which don't have any more expensive "better versions" for the rich.
Fanfiction idea: Russ gives Stephen a special assignment. Stephen is expected to take him on 11 dates that won't cost more than $ 50.
AU idea: A tale about a poor horse-boy, Russ, who one day tries to saddle the king's new horse. In the forest the boy meets a hunter, who scares the horse and the boy falls of. With time it turns out that the "hunter" is King Stephen.
Here's some more about:
Book Title: Off-Balance
Author: Brigham Vaughn
Cover Artist: Brigham Vaughn
Release Date: August 3, 2020
Trope/s: May/December, age gap, hurt comfort, rich man poor man,
workplace romance
Themes: Grief, family acceptance/homophobia, exploring light kink,
friends and chosen family, emotional baggage.
Heat Rating: 4 flames
It is the first book in a new series
Love doesn’t always add up.
Blurb
Blurb
Russell Bishop is a rising star at Vantage Marketing.
Stephen Parker is the company’s CFO.
A spilled cup of coffee gives them an opportunity to act on the mutual attraction they’ve both been trying to ignore. But attraction isn’t enough with an almost twenty-year age gap and clashing expectations about their relationship.
Fiercely independent, Russ isn't sure he's ready for long-term commitment and Stephen is afraid history is repeating itself.
Their relationship reaches a crossroads when the death of Stephen’s father forces them to visit his hometown in southern Georgia. Estranged from his family, Stephen must come to terms with his past and say goodbye to the father whose expectations he could never live up to. The small, conservative town provides its own challenges as Russ must find the strength to be the man Stephen desperately needs.
Stephen Parker is the company’s CFO.
A spilled cup of coffee gives them an opportunity to act on the mutual attraction they’ve both been trying to ignore. But attraction isn’t enough with an almost twenty-year age gap and clashing expectations about their relationship.
Fiercely independent, Russ isn't sure he's ready for long-term commitment and Stephen is afraid history is repeating itself.
Their relationship reaches a crossroads when the death of Stephen’s father forces them to visit his hometown in southern Georgia. Estranged from his family, Stephen must come to terms with his past and say goodbye to the father whose expectations he could never live up to. The small, conservative town provides its own challenges as Russ must find the strength to be the man Stephen desperately needs.
Excerpt
“Hopefully, I’m not keeping you from a hot date tonight or something.”
Stephen let out a small snort of amusement. “Russ, I can’t remember the last time I had a hot date. Frankly, it’s been months since I’ve had a date of any sort. And they were lukewarm at best. If you’re asking if I’m single, the answer is yes.”
Embarrassed, Russ cleared his throat. “I was curious.”
“Nothing wrong with curiosity.”
“I’m single too,” Russ said. He cringed internally. Jesus. He’d had game once. Okay, maybe not game because he’d never had time to really develop it, but he used to be at least slightly smooth. This … whatever this was, was truly pathetic.
But Stephen didn’t seem too put out by his awkwardness. “Haven’t met the right person or no time to date?”
“Maybe a little of both,” Russ admitted. “It can be hard to meet men when you’re working fifty, sixty hours a week.” There. He’d at least managed to work the fact that he was gay into the conversation without doing it in the most cringey way possible.
“Absolutely,” Stephen said. “Though, from what I hear, you’re doing very well at Vantage.”
Russ blinked. He had no idea Stephen had even known who he was, much less that he’d been paying attention to how he was doing. “I had no idea you’d noticed me at work.”
“Oh, I noticed.” Stephen gave him a slow smile. “You needn’t worry about proving your worth, if that’s why you’re working those kind of hours.”
“I like to be thorough,” Russ said.
“Thoroughness is good.”
Was it Russ’s imagination or was there a hint of heat in Stephen’s eyes now and a faint rasp to his voice? “I like to make sure I take my time and fully grasp a topic,” Russ countered. “Get a real grip on it.”
“Traits like that will certainly allow you to get far at whatever you choose to do.”
Including with you? Russ wondered. “I’m trying to get ahead.”
The corner of Stephen’s mouth curved up even further. “That much is clear.”
“Think I’ll succeed?”
“I suppose it depends on what you’re trying to succeed at.”
“You don’t know?”
“I try not to make any assumptions about anything until I’m sure.”
Goddamn it. They were talking in circles and getting nowhere. Maybe Russ needed to try a different approach.
“I appreciate all of your help today,” Russ said. “I seriously can’t thank you enough.”
Stephen looked away from the TV again and shook his head, glancing at Russ with a small smile. “It’s the least I could do. I feel responsible for what happened.”
Russ smiled back, Stephen’s earnestness relaxing him. “Let’s call it even then, I guess. Or we could be up all night with this.”
Stephen quirked an eyebrow up at him, eyes crinkling at the corners with amusement. Fuck, what a turn on. Why older men were such an attraction for him, Russ would never be sure, but he’d realized it in college. He’d had a brief fling with a professor named Jack Burns after the semester was over. It wasn’t the forbidden aspect of it—they’d both waited until after Russ was no longer his student—but he liked the age difference.
A man with a fit body, handsome face, graying hair, and a killer smile always got Russ going. Hell, his head and ankle ached and he was still thinking about what Stephen would be like in bed. And was he flirting? God, Russ hoped so. “Well, being up all night isn’t always a bad thing.”
Stephen’s lips turned up at the corners in amusement. “You don’t think so?”
Russ shrugged. “It depends on the reason, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, I suppose it does,” Stephen murmured. He shifted to face Russ. “I’m afraid all of the best reasons are off the table at the moment though, aren’t they?”
“Too bad.”
About the Author
Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.
Her books range from short stories to novellas to novels. They explore gay, bisexual, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.
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